Despite a late-game explosion that nearly pulled off a miracle at the Mall of Asia Arena, Gilas Pilipinas star Dwight Ramos was left reflecting on what could have been. The Nationals absorbed their first defeat in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, falling 69-66 to a disciplined New Zealand squad on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Ramos finished as the game’s top scorer with 16 points and 8 rebounds, but the numbers didn’t tell the full story of a night where the basket seemed to have a lid on it for the home team.
A Heroic Effort Met with Cold Shooting
The game was a defensive grind from the jump. While Ramos spearheaded a furious 4th-quarter rally—scoring five points in the final minute to bring Gilas within two—it was his efficiency that haunted him after the final buzzer.
The versatile guard shot a struggling 6-of-21 (28%) from the field and managed only one conversion on 10 attempts from beyond the arc. His final desperation heave at the buzzer, which could have sent the game into overtime, clanked off the rim, sealing the victory for the “Tall Blacks.”
“I feel bad. I wish I was better today,” a dejected Ramos told reporters post-game. “It’s kind of tough because I missed a lot of shots. Right now, all I can think about are my mistakes.”
Key Takeaways from the Heartbreaker
It wasn’t just Ramos who felt the chill of the arena’s air conditioning:
- Offensive Slump: Gilas shot a dismal 32.5% as a team. Naturalized star Justin Brownlee was held to just 4 points on 2-of-10 shooting, his lowest output in a Gilas uniform.
- The Bright Spots: CJ Perez provided an early spark with 10 first-quarter points (finishing with 15), while AJ Edu anchored the defense with 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.
- The Third Quarter Collapse: After a 37-all deadlock at halftime, New Zealand outscored the Philippines 20-9 in the third, a gap that proved too wide to bridge despite the late-game heroics.
No Time for Moral Victories
Head coach Tim Cone echoed his player’s sentiments, refusing to take comfort in the close scoreline. “We’re not going to feel good about the fact that we got close. The bottom line is we’re here to win,” Cone emphasized.
The loss brings Gilas to a 2-1 record in Group A. However, the road doesn’t get any easier. The Nationals must now turn their focus to a powerhouse Australia team, which they will host this coming Sunday at the same venue. For Ramos and the rest of the squad, the mission is clear: find the shooting touch, or risk falling further in the standings.
Gilas Pilipinas suffered its first loss in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, falling 69-66 to New Zealand on February 26, 2026. Despite leading the team with 16 points and 8 rebounds, Dwight Ramos expressed deep regret over his 6-of-21 shooting performance, including a missed game-tying three at the buzzer. Justin Brownlee struggled with only 4 points as the team shot 32.5% overall. Gilas (2-1) looks to bounce back against Australia on Sunday.